T&T: Geeks use hockey to bridge 'digital divide'

Annual Geeks on Ice tournament raises funds to help provide computer technology for non-profit groups

By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday March 4th, 2008
Appeared on page A8

Geeks on Ice almost had a far less catchy name.

The five-year-old Moncton hockey tournament is made up of teams from the information technology sector. They get together for a weekend tournament that's part networking opportunity and part fundraiser for local charities.

Trevor MacAusland, of Skywire Software, came up with the idea for the event in spring 2003 but he was stuck on what to call it. At the Moncton Rotary Club luncheon yesterday, MacAusland told his audience all he could come up with was the long, rambling and incomplete, "New Brunswick Information Technology Annual . . . ."

"One of my co-workers, who's a smart Alec, said 'Bunch of geeks on ice.' I said, That's it! I'm going with that," MacAusland told the crowd.

Geeks on Ice has built itself into a 16-team tournament for men and women. This year it takes place at the Tim Hortons 4-Ice Centre from April 17-20. Teams can register up to March 15 at $800 per team and players who want to take part can register as a 'free agent' and be assigned to a team.

MacAusland spoke at the Delta Beauséjour yesterday, and mostly talked about the charitable side of the Geeks. He said the tournament has raised $15,000 to provide local non-profit organizations with computer equipment and technological upgrades.

"There's a gap between the digital haves and digital have-nots," he said. "It's the digital divide.

"Our mission is not to stop skating until we eliminate that digital divide."

The Geeks have already helped out several organizations. They've provided Support for Single Parents with refurbished laptop computers and the Tantramar Family Resource Centre received a digital camera to help document its work so it can apply for government grants.

Several other groups have received computer equipment, including fax machines, scanners and printers. MacAusland said they plan to branch out so local IT companies loan their network technicians to non-profit groups to help set up computer systems and ensure everything works properly.

This year the Geeks are focusing on the needs of Ability Transit, an organization that provides transportation to people with mobility problems due to a physical disability.

MacAusland said the Geeks are looking for more teams for this year's tournament, along with sponsors and volunteers.

Source: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/229840

Geeks on Ice would like to thank its 2008 sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Molson.